CHAPTER 0 : Two Sixteenths
(+ Character Roster)
MORNING
Location: Outside Hope's Peak Academy
Hope's Peak Academy. A government-funded school that celebrates and rewards talented teenagers. As such, only the cream of the crop can enter this school, by being specifically scouted for their special talents by the school staff itself, and being recruited to become the 'hope' of the world, giving it the oh-so-deserved nickname of 'the school of Hope' from many sources around the world.
There are only two requirements you must meet to enroll in this prestiged academy, although they are no easy feat. Firstly, you must be enrolled in high school. Secondly, you must be the very best at your given field - the best of the best regarding your talent.
As a reward for meeting these requirements, you are able to enroll free of charge in the academy's Main Course, where you'll be then guaranteed to be successful in your life post-graduation. No entrance exams, no fees, no quarrels. Just be the best, and the school will come to you for admission.
"You know I've heard all that before, right, Kagura?" Masaru asked cheerfully, hands behind his head. "You gave me that speech on the school's history yesterday. And the day before that. Every day for the past two weeks. Are you that excited about this?"
"How could you not be excited!? Do you understand how important this is!? We must be luckiest people alive!" the newly enrolled member of the 72nd Class started ranting once again about how she had been waiting for this for so long. "I mean, not as lucky as Super High School Level Lucksters, sure, but we're so lucky! We both got into the academy, in the same class and everything! It's too much, dude, it's too much!"
Masaru just laughed it off and sat up. "What are we waiting for then? You know the Academy is just over there. We've been laying here for so long, my butt hurts..."
"No, no, no!" the black-haired girl retorted. "Like hell I'm going now! We have to wait for the perfect moment, understand?" she rested her head on the brick wall behind her and looked straight-forward, across the street and to the main gates of her new high school with a dreamy look to her face. The building towered over both the teenagers like a skyscraper, coated in cream walls, windows and above the main gate, the Hope's Peak insignia, a sign of hope for the entire nation.
"Can we just..." Masaru tried to make his friend get the idea, but was unable to. He wasn't even sure if she was listening to him, or if he was just meaningless babble in her ears. "...get off the damn sidewalk? I've been stepped on three times now."
Kagura sighed and stood up, lending the boy a helping hand. "You're such a bother, Masaru. Let's just go sit on a bench like normal, boring people do. What kind of talent do you have? Are you the Ultimate Bore?"
"Was that supposed to be offensive?" Masaru chuckled as he grabbed Kagura's hand and lifted himself up, leading her to the bench on the other side of the street, facing the street. "We're going to have our backs turned to the school building... can you handle it for a few minutes?"
The girl just stuck her tongue out and puffed her cheeks, giving the edifice one final look before sitting down. "Majestic." she whispered to herself, adjusting the strap of her camera around her neck. "And now, it's time for our hope to shine the brightest it's ever shone..."
I'm aware that there are quite a few characters in this story, so I made sure to make a character list in case you forget about any of their names, talents or roles. Resort to this little compilation as often as you need to. I hope it helps!
MAIN CLASS (72-1)
Males
Masaru Arakawa, Ultimate Match Maker
Shinjiro Minoto, Ultimate DJ
Dallas Park, Ultimate Test Subject
Ryuk Hoshigaki, Ultimate Shark Hunter
Arturo Bianchi, Ultimate Linguist
Isamu Sasaki, Ultimate Hornist
Shiro Murakami, Ultimate Editor
Leo Matthewson, Ultimate Archeologist
Females
Kagura Kiyomaru, Ultimate Candid Photographer
Hokuto Nanto, Ultimate Astronomer
Chika Sasaki, Ultimate Sculptor
Shizuka Masuda, Ultimate Sleepwalker
Harumi Ueda, Ultimate Slacker
Kikenna Boken, Ultimate Survivor
Yura Murao, Ultimate Living Statue
Tomomi Takizawa, Ultimate Vocaloid Producer
Teshima, Ultimate Vocaloid
OTHER STUDENTS (72-2)
Males
Sudu Nouya, Ultimate Artist
Ko Ebi, Ultimate Wood Carver
Akira Batora, Ultimate Demolition Expert
Orochimura Oda, Ultimate Sharpshooter
Females
Hana Sochikawa, Ultimate Fangirl
Airi Houseki, Ultimate Breather
Maribel Collins, Ultimate Psychological Metaphysician
Valeria Ivanov, Ultimate Merchant
SCHOOL STAFF
Jin Kirigiri, Hope's Peak Academy Principal
Satoshi Tsukamoto, Hope's Peak Academy Scout
Saki Raibana, Former Ultimate Circus Performer, 72-1's Homeroom Teacher and Gymnastics Team Coach
Great Gozu, Former Ultimate Wrestler and 'Warriors of Hope' Coach
Aaron Young, Former Ultimate Actor and Head of the Drama Club
Chikako Hanayashi, Former Ultimate Goalie and Football Team Coach
Reiji Takumishi, Former Ultimate Entrepreneur and Head of the Mathletes